Process of and apparatus for electrically dividing metal plates or blocks.



T. E. MURRAY, JR. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY DIVIDINGMETAL PLATES 0R BLOCKS. APPLICATION FILED MAY5.191T.

1,233,691 Patented July 17, 1917.

a E 5 17 wmm T 13 A T a Z L 4 a $\fl U .1 7 L fl or blocks.

' strength to melt the metal of vided head of which THOMAS E.

ERQCESS OF All-ID APPAEJALUS FOR ELECTRIGfiLL-Y BLOGKS.

Application filed Elia To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that Tiioiiss E. Manner, 512, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in recesses ofand Apparatus for Electrically Dividing Metal Plates or Blocks, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention is a process or" and apparatus for electrically dividingplates The plate or block to be divided is place in contactwith twoelectrodes of a width substantially corresponding to the width of saidplate and separated by an interval corresponding to a hem ofpredetermined dimensions so as to bridge said interval. There is thenestablished through said electrodes and plate a current or" sufiicientthe portion of the plate which bridges said interval, which melted metalthen escapes through said interval, leaving the plate divided into twoparts.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a vertical section of the electrodes and plate to be divided. 2 is a erspective view of the dividedplate.

biroilar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A, A is a bed or support of reiraetory insulating material, such asporcelain cemerit formed in two separated parts. B and C are electrodesthereon. Each electrode is formed two parts a, b and each electrode isof a WlClill' substantially corresponding to the width of the dividedsections of said plate. The plate D to be dirests upon the lower parts aof the electrodes so as to bridge the gap or interval 6 between theopposing faces or crises of said parts which interval is to correspondin dimensions to the predetermined heir" to be made between the dividedsections of said plate; The upper parts 0 of the electrodes are placedabove the plate i) with a gap (Z between them preferably 01"" the saucewidth as gap 5. The parts of electrode are clamped together by a headedbolt E, the head of which is received in a countersink in bed A. partsof electrode G are clamped together oy a headed bolt 3?, the

is also received in a counter- I/ZURRlY, 05 NEW" YORK,

irce current tner ermine the c be made. with the re tion of plate emelted, and *oulgh the gap between the melting occurs along the whole heplate, asshown in .2, said plate becom s divided into two parts by thekerf shown. 'lhis operation is practically instantaneous, The gaps Z),LZ fiIlCl hence the keri may he l a narrow desired.

The term suhsta ally corresponding to the width of said pl e hereinused, means that the width oi the electrodes and the width of the plateto e divided are to correspond, so that wh the current passes, thelief-cf electrically A separate the two sections 01" the plate. Thisresult will obviously ollow when the width of the electrodes is precielyequal to or greater than the plate. I desire to point out is that itwill also follow even when the electrodes are slightly less in widththan the la'e because 0 the spreading of he heating effect upon themetal, and

t1 the consequent softening thereof from the bridges gap 7) will flowdew and so out o 1 parts A, A

outer edges of the electrodes to the outer edges 0" the plate; and myOlJJQClJ in making this statement is to guard against any minuteinterpretation of the claims designed to exclude such slight variationin correspondence of the outer edges of the plate and the outer edges ofthe electrodes.

ll hile l have here shown the kerr H as straight. it will be obviousthat it may also be curved, or otherwise depart from a straight linejoining the opposite edges of the plate to be divided.

I claim: 1. The process dividing a metal block or plate which onsists 1nelectrically melt- The gaps formed will completelv ing a portion of saidplate to form a kerf of predetermined dimensions, whereby said I plateis se'paratedinto two sections.

2. The process of dividing a metal or plat plate in contact withsubstantially corresponding to the Width of said plate and separated byan interval corresponding to a kerf ofpredetermineddimensions to be madebetween the divided sections of said plate, and second, establishanelectrical current betweenlsaid electrodes, whereby the entire portion 0said plate between and bridging said electrodes is melted and caused-toflow from between said sections. a 3. An apparatus for dividing a metalblock or plate, comprising electrodes of awidth substantiallycorresponding) to the 20 width of said plate and separated y an i tervalcorresponding to a kerf of predeter mined dimensions to be made betweenthe divided sections of said plate, nd means for clamping said plate incontact with said electrodes to bridge said interval.

4. An apparatus for'electrically dividin a metal plate, as in claim 3,one of sai electrodes being adjustable to vary the width of said gap. l

5. An apparatus for electrically dividing a metal plate, as in claim 3,each of said electrodes being formedvin two parts, and means forclamping said plate between said pai'ts.

HOMAS E. MURRAY, JR.v

Witnesses: x

' GERTRUDE 'l. PORTER,

MAY'T. MCGA'RRY.

testimony whereofhave affixed m -sa I

